<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-29</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-10-09</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001183765</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THRESHOLD PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>THLD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001178579</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TANG KEVIN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4401 EASTGATE MALL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TANG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4401 EASTGATE MALL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191935</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TANG CAPITAL PARTNERS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4401 EASTGATE MALL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>736405</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>49515</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>As Trustee</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4716</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On October 9, 2008, the reporting person mistakenly filed a Form 3 reporting the ownership of 1,400,988 shares of Common Stock by Tang Capital Partners, LP. As explained in footnote 2 and 3, Tang Capital Partners, LP only owned 736,405 shares of common stock on September 29, 2008 and therefore should not have filed a Form 3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Tang Capital Partners, LP (&quot;TCP&quot;) held shares of the Issuer in an account at Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (&quot;LBIE&quot;). On September 15, 2008 LBIE was placed into administration under United Kingdom law and four partners of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP were appointed as joint administrators (the &quot;Joint Administrators&quot;). The Joint Administrators have advised us that most of TCP's shares were rehypothecated. Certain non-rehypothecated shares were also held at LBIE and the timing and likelihood of the return is uncertain.  The Joint Administrators and UK counsel have further advised that LBIE's customers will not be able to recover rehypothecated shares, but instead will be entitled to a general unsecured claim with respect to such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Accordingly, TCP in this filing has reduced the number of shares of the Issuer held by TCP to the extent such shares were held at LBIE. By making this filing, TCP does not waive any argument that it is entitled to recover such shares and expressly reserves such arguments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The securities are held by Tang Capital Partners, LP. Kevin C. Tang is the sole manager of Tang Capital Management, LLC, which is the general partner of Tang Capital Partners, LP. Mr. Tang disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The securities are held by Kevin C. Tang as custodian for his minor children, as Trustee of the Tang Family Trust, and as Trustee of the Tang Advisors, LLC Profit Sharing Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The securities are held by Kevin C. Tang's IRA.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin C. Tang</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin C. Tang, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin C. Tang, as Managing Member of Tang Capital Management, LLC, General Partner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
